Schools shut for second day, Chennai braces for more rains

AT LEAST FIVE PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THE STATE AFTER THE NORTHEAST MONSOON DUMPED HEAVY SHOWERS, WHICH LED TO SEVERE FLOODING

CHENNAI: Schools in Chennai and two other districts were ordered closed on Wednesday as vast swathes of Tamil Nadu braced for more rains amid widespread flooding triggered by heavy showers over the past two days.

At least five people were killed in the state after the northeast monsoon dumped heavy showers, leading to flooding and raising memories of a massive deluge that pummelled Chennai two years ago.

After easing on Tuesday, the rains returned on Wednesday even as the weatherman predicted heavy showers during the day. Officials said schools were asked to remain closed for the second consecutive day in Chennai, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts due to waterlogging. But the government allayed fears of a repeat of the 2015 floods, assuring people that the state was prepared this time.

The rain, which began on Monday morning, saw massive waterlogging in the capital, sparking traffic snarls as people were forced to walk through waist-deep water to reach their places of work.

The rainfall, however, addressed Chennai’s water shortage concerns to a large extent. The rain filled up catchment areas of Chennai’s reservoirs — Poondi lake, Cholavaram lake, Redhills lake and Chembarapakkam lake — which provide drinking water to the city.

The Met department in a bulletin here said rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at most places over coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and at many places in interior Tamil Nadu on Thursday as well. Civic authorities said staffers were deployed roundthe-clock to pump out water from roads and subways.